Knee Bracing

Knee braces/supports are ideal for patients with impaired mobility due to osteoarthritis (OA). OA is the degeneration of the articular cartilage, which becomes thinner and wears away. This leads to significant pain and reduced mobility. Technology now exists to provide effective joint offloading, using knee bracing that can delay the need for joint replacement surgery and reduce the symptoms caused by OA at the knee.

The London Orthotic Consultancy (LOC) has developed a specialist knee bracing service for patients with impaired mobility due to OA.

LOC uses the OActive Single Upright Osteoarthritis Knee Brace,which provides the required leverage for medial or lateral compartment unloading. The brace has a specific angle adjustment to optimise pain relief. It is a low profile, lightweight design enhancing comfort and compliance.

The knee braces may be used in conjunction with the unique BioniCare® System. Bionicare is a revolutionary, non-drug, non-invasive treatment for uni, bi and tri-compartmental knee osteoarthritis.

BioniCare® is a small electrical stimulation device that is applied with electrodes to the knee and thigh. The stimulation is subsensory—the patient does not feel it. It treats the underlying cause of the disease by stimulating the joint tissue and improving the overall health of the joint. It does not affect the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys or liver and does not carry the risk of infection.

Patients using BioniCare report decreased pain, decreased joint stiffness, improved range of motion and often reduce their NSAID intake. BioniCare is a long-term solution for a degenerative (long-term) disease. After 2,250 hours of use, the effect of the device is the same as a total knee replacement, without the risks of surgery. The only risk of the BioniCare device is a possible skin irritation from the use of the electrodes.

Additionally, since the BioniCare device is integrated into the OActive 'unloader' brace, the brace will reduce the impact of weight bearing and reduce the patient’s pain. This helps get the patient back to more normal activities of daily living, and potentially enables them to participate in an exercise programme with minimal discomfort. The brace provides an immediate benefit, while BioniCare provides a slower-acting, longer-lasting effect. The combination of these two products offers maximum benefit with minimal risk.

The average treatment time is nine to 12 month,s using the Bionicare device for eight hours per day. Effective treatment is based on the number of hours Bionicare is used. Clinical studies show the best outcome is achieved after 1,750-2,249 hours of use.

Significantly more cost-effective compared to total knee replacement surgery, without the risks and potential side effects associated with surgery and other treatment, including drugs, Bionicare has already been used on more than 80,000 US patients with outstanding results. It is also is backed by five scientific studies.

LOC’s clinicians will determine your suitability for this type of treatment and the specific treatment model that would be most appropriate, during your detailed clinical assessment. This includes a medical history along with both a physical and gait assessment.